Benghazi Problem

In today's [22 June 2013] Post I noticed an opinion about Benghazi.  The problem was and is that position is a Consulate not an Embassy.  What is a difference between them?  The difference is that a consulate is a business.  This means for the average American they can go to this particular location and have minor problems adjusted for them. A consulate belongs to the local government not the United States.  A consulate is rented space in a foreign country.   A consulate is usually open 9-5 Monday thru Saturday with Sundays off.

What is an Embassy?  A Embassy is part of the United States of America and the property belongs to our government.  Upon entering an Embassy you enter U.S. territory as a U.S. Citizen.  You are on home ground which will become a safe haven against all the local people can throw against you. An Embassy is the United States to all foreign people. An Embassy is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  An Embassy is allowed to negotiate Treaties with the local Government.

Both places have Ambassadors.  Both places have a staff.  However a Consulate does not and cannot negotiate treaties with anybody.  Basically a Consulate is just a way station for the U.S. citizen to stop into for local, 500 miles square, information.  Other than that not much can be done at a Consulate except you can make a phone call from one state to another and only get charged for a local long distance phone call.

What happened in Benghazi was a problem for Congress to deal with.  According to the Sound Bite industry it was a huge problem.  Really??  Really??  The place was a consulate not an Embassy.  Yes there was an embarrassment for the Secretary of State.  There was no U.S. Security forces on duty, and the people were only covered by off duty local police.  Congress, not the State Department, did not pass a spending bill to pay the locals to stay on duty.  Congress, not the State Department, cut the State Department's budget to the bone.  This is the crux of the issue.  Yes State had to cut staff.  Yes state had to reduce the protection of the Ambassador.  However this does not explain why we as a people opened a business in Libya.
 
In today's society we try a case in the court of public opinion rather than letting the case get tried in an actual court.  The sound-bite industry only gives the average citizen 30 seconds to learn all you can about any particular problem.  After that it is  on to the next problem.

Benghazi is both a problem for the Congress and State Departments.  I have seen no documents that indicate what Congress, our elected officials, will do to correct this problem.  I have seen what the State Department will do in the future but Congress has chosen not to act.

Benghazi Problem;
1. Is only an consulate.
2. No U.S. Security forces.
3. No real way out once you are locked down.
4. No real defensive capabilities.
State Department Solution
1. No Change.
2. Send in Marines and Army Infantry.
3. Secure a helicopter for emergency purposes.
4. Design stronger buildings with anti personnel mines as part of them.
5. Ensure the soldiers get paid combat bonus extra and that they get their regular pay.
Congressional Solution.
1. What???
2.Tough!!!
3. Not my problem.
4. You want what???
5. Crisis.